Can you believe the 2025-2026 academic school year is already upon us?! After several weeks of vacation, some may be ready to go back to school. While others may be wishing they had more time.
The back-to-school period is usually bittersweet, but mostly exciting. The back-to-school period is like celebrating a new year. It’s almost synonymous with new shoes, new supplies, and excitement. When someone mentions back to school, you can assume that there will be new goals involved, shopping, and lots of anticipation. As we enjoy these precious moments, we are often reminded of our experiences and sometimes feel inspired by the younger generation.
Back-to-school can be both nostalgic and inspiring; however, it is a great period because it is all about pouring into our youth unapologetically. To support and encourage the youth is to invest in our future. Fortune and Forks, Stript, along with Snipes + Nike, also believe that the power of tomorrow is in the hands of our youth. This academic year, these organizations orchestrated a one-of-a-kind back-to-school experience! Designed to inspire and support the young women of Washington, D.C., this event was intentionally curated. The participants were able to connect with individuals that they could relate to, which is imperative in the process of making their dreams and aspirations attainable. It is worth mentioning that Fortune and Forks is a professional network for high-achieving women of color, created to exchange key resources, foster fellowship, and celebrate accomplishments.
This year’s back-to-school experience was not only about engaging in a fun activation, but it was also educational. During the first half of the event, the young ladies had the opportunity to get pampered, shop, and learn about local businesses such as Buji Matcha and Stript. The second half of the activation gave the young ladies the opportunity to network and expand their knowledge in an intimate setting. This created a space for positivity and confidence. One of the recurring pieces of advice that was shared in the room is: Do not be afraid to make mistakes and start over. This was a powerful message for the audience because sometimes making serious decisions at a young age can seem permanent, so it was great to see women from different age groups encourage the youth the follow their hearts. In addition, they were also able to ask business owners valuable questions related to entrepreneurship. At the end of the event, the young ladies were gifted a Stript hat and a pair of Nike Air Max Muse sneakers, an emblem of bold design and individuality. A couple of stylish items for the new school year!
Events like these are so inspiring and uplifting for the youth. We encourage you to get involved and invest in the youth because they are the future of tomorrow!
